Slab leaks are potentially one of the worst plumbing problems a home or business can experience. This term refers to when a pipe located underneath a concrete slab or foundation breaks, comes loose or develops a hole, resulting in water leaking out underneath the building. Slab leaks are most common in supply-side plumbing, i.e., water lines. While it happens more rarely, they can also occur in the drain and sewer side of the system.
Why Slab Leaks Are Such a Serious Problem
Any type of plumbing leak has the potential to damage your home, but the damage that can result from a slab leak can be especially troublesome. The biggest concern is that the water can start washing away some of the soil underneath the foundation or cause it to settle. Either of these issues can then lead to the foundation and the rest of the house sinking or shifting. When this happens, you’ll often end up with large cracks forming in the foundation.
If your foundation sinks or shifts, it can also cause significant damage to parts of the building’s interior. For instance, you’ll often end up with large cracks forming in sheetrock walls, especially at the corners of window and door frames. Foundation shifting can damage flooring as well due to certain areas sinking or heaving upward. Another common problem you can encounter is window and door frames shifting, potentially resulting in the window or door getting jammed and no longer fully opening or closing.
Another concern when a building has a slab leak is the potential for water damage in the interior. When the soil around a foundation is overly waterlogged, water will often end up seeping through the concrete and getting inside. This can result in major damage to flooring, baseboards, the bottoms of walls, and furnishings. If certain materials get wet, you can also end up with mold beginning to grow in as little as 24 hours.
What Can Cause a Slab Leak?
Slab leaks can develop for a variety of different reasons. Older buildings are more prone to slab leaks simply as a result of the underground pipes deteriorating due to age or corrosion. Pipe corrosion is especially common in areas with more acidic water. Certain impurities in the water supply can also lead to increased corrosion and a higher chance of pipes developing leaks. Hard water is a concern as well since the minerals can also result in pipes corroding more quickly.
High water pressure is one of the more common causes of slab leaks because it results in increased turbulence inside pipes. This turbulence puts more strain on the pipe and can end up loosening pipe joints and fittings over time. High water pressure can also result in pitting inside of pipes or thinning of the pipe walls, both of which often lead to pinhole leaks forming at some point.
Another reason why slab leaks can happen more often in older buildings is due to the building’s foundation naturally settling over time. This can cause underground pipes to slightly shift to where they’re directly touching the concrete. Pipes tend to shudder slightly when you turn the water on and off. This then causes the pipe to rub against the concrete and get abraded, eventually resulting in a hole forming in the pipe and it leaking. In some cases, settling can put too much pressure on a pipe or cause it to shift so that it just suddenly breaks and creates a major slab leak.
Call Our Trusted Plumbers for Slab Leak Repair!
These issues are yet another reason why it’s important to get any slab leaks fixed by a professional plumber as soon as possible. If you wait and the water causes the foundation to further shift or settle, it can result in additional slab leaks occurring.
When you need a plumber to handle slab leaks in Omaha or the surrounding areas, trust the experts at Winfrey Plumbing. We’re a fully licensed plumbing contractor with more than 60 years of experience serving our residential and commercial clients. Our professionals can also help you eliminate any other type of plumbing issue you’re dealing with, from a leaky pipe to a running toilet. Contact us today if you have any questions or to schedule a plumbing repair service call.
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